CI-NEWS

Pope Francis recognizes CSPH boss and wife for their Christian works

2020-01-15

No: 466

Pope Francis recognizes CSPH boss and wife for their Christian works.

Mr/Mrs Okie Johnson Ndoh before the altar with their medal

Mr Okie Johnson Ndoh, the G.M of the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilization Fund, and wife received a special distinctive papal medal at St.Joseph Anglophone Parish Mvog Ada on Sunday 12 January 2020.

The medal called PRO ECCLESIA ET PONTIFICE was awarded during the mass to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ and was celebrated by the Archbishop of Bamenda, Andrew Nkea.

Present at the special mass to commemorate the feast of the baptism of our Lord and to award the papal medal to Okie Johnson and wife were over six bishops from the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda andYaounde; more than ten priests; government ministers; and two former Prime Ministers, Peter Mafany Musonge and Yang Philemon.

During the special mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Bamenda, His Grace Andrew Nkea, he pointed out the significance of the medal. “PRO ECCLESIA ET PONTIFICE for the church and for the pope is a medal that the Holy Father gives in recognition to the work that someone does in the local church and in the national church. Mr/Mrs Okie have distinguished themselves especially with the construction of the shrine of our Lady of Fatima in the Diocese of Mamfe and for all the other works that they have done and are still doing in the local church in Mamfe and the National Church of Cameroon” , said His Grace Andrew Nkea.

He maintained that the medal doesn’t carry any financial or material benefit but it is meant to inform the beneficiaries that the Holy Father is aware of their commitment, sacrifices and hard work in building the holy church of God.

However, the bishop said the medal given by the pope will also guarantee a special recognition to Okie Johnson and wife if they pay a visit to the Holy See.

To the General Manager of CSPH, the medal awarded by the Pope is not only a blessing but also a challenge to work harder and be more committed in serving God in every aspect of life through words and actions.

“This medal represents our relationship with God. It signifies to us that when you give your entire life to God not only in talking but also in actions, meaning touching your neighbours, helping them and creating a better life for everybody, it gives satisfaction. I am reminding other Cameroonians that when we put our hands together and look at our positive values, we can build a stronger Cameroon”, said Okie Johnson, the G.M of CSPH.

His Grace Andrew Nkea highlighted that the mass was to be celebrated in the Cathedral at the Mamfe Diocese but unfortunately, the war which is vibrating in the diocese couldn’t guarantee the safety of all those who could have loved to be part of the event.

In his homily, he explained that the medal was established by Pope Leo XIII, July 17, 1888 to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee and was awarded to men and women who assisted and promoted the jubilee. The medal became a papal distinction in 1898 and underwent transformation with the current version introduced by Pope VI. The Archbishop said he received this special medal on December 5, 2019 for Mr/Mrs Okie Johnson.

Mr/Mrs Okie Johnson unconsciously attracted this medal through their commitment in the church, visible through the land they offered the Mamfe Diocese which now hosts a four hundred capacity chapel, with built stations of the cross around the premises, a hostel for pilgrims to stay, a grotto of our lady, a Calvary scene of the crucifixion and a gift shop.

When he was appointed Bishop of Mamfe, Bishop Andrew Nkea proposed to build a spiritual centre on the land and in 2014, wrote to the Holy See who supported the project with the sum of FCFA 10 milliion.

Mr Okie Johnson Ndoh and wife adopted an aggressive campaign to raise funds for the construction of the spiritual centre which was finally inaugurated on May 9, 2019.

The centre today serves as a prayer arena for christians as he revealed a mariane year for prayer was declared last October to pray for the return of peace in the North West and South West Regions.

His Lordship Andrew Nkea added that Okie Johnson Ndoh has contributed to the growth of the church wherever he has gone especially in the Catholic Men’s Association where he is National President since 2018.

All these spurred the Holy See to request for the couple’s Curriculum Vitae and after years of examination, decided to honour them with a medal.

Okie Johnson Ndoh was baptised as an adult on June 19, 1970 in Mukondje while his wife Catherine Ndoh was baptised on December 23, 1967 and an infant in Mamfe.

His Lordship Andrew Nkea said their decoration by the Holy See with a Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal is a call for them to continue their work for the spiritual growth of the church as well as other christians to show more commitment in their spiritual life and dedication to the growth of the Roman Catholic Church.

The medal is an external decoration that calls for more spiritual action from the couple as well as Christians in general.

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Pope Francis recognizes CSPH boss and wife for their Christian works